“Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you — unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures … If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable. But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.” 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, 19-20 (Read 1 Corinthians 15:1-34)
Have you ever faced a question so fundamental that if the answer changed, your entire world would be turned upside down? For the Corinthian believers, that question was about the resurrection of the dead. Some in the church were denying it, and Paul knew this threatened the very foundation of their faith.
In this powerful chapter, Paul doesn’t just ask them to take his word for it. He points to the historical facts: a long list of eyewitnesses, from Peter and the apostles to Paul and to more than 500 believers who saw the risen Christ on a single occasion — most of whom were still alive and could be questioned when Paul wrote this letter. This wasn’t a spiritual fable; it was a verifiable event that had changed the course of history.
Paul then presents a profound argument. If there is no resurrection, then everything we believe is meaningless. Our preaching is empty, our faith is pointless, our sins are unforgiven, and those who have died trusting in Christ are simply gone forever. “If in this life only we have hope in Christ,” he writes, “we are of all men the most pitiable.” The world’s cynicism, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die,” would be the only logical conclusion.
However, Paul then brings us to the glorious, life-changing truth: “But now Christ is risen from the dead!” This single fact is the cornerstone of our faith. Christ’s bodily resurrection on the third day is not just a promise; it’s a guarantee to those who trust in Him. It is the “firstfruits,” the first part of the harvest that ensures the rest is coming. His victory over sin and death assures us that we, too, will be raised up at His coming on the last day!
The resurrection changes everything. It makes our hardships and sacrifices worthwhile because our hope is not confined to this fleeting life. It gives purpose to our lives, calling us to “awake to righteousness” and live in the knowledge of God.
A Moment of Reflection: How does the reality of the resurrection impact your daily life? How does it change the way you face challenges and look toward the future? What comfort and hope does it give to you?
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for the incredible truth of Your Son’s resurrection. Thank You for His victory over sin and death, the guarantee of our own future resurrection and life. Strengthen us by this truth that we may live for You today and every day, knowing that our hope is not in this life only, but in You and the life to come for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
[Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.]